Posted on 03/28/2007 10:19:40 AM PDT by dogbyte12
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday.
Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for," Dobson said of Thompson. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression," Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.
Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Thompson, took issue with Dobson's characterization of the former Tennessee senator. "Thompson is indeed a Christian," he said. "He was baptized into the Church of Christ."
In a follow-up phone conversation, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger stood by Dobson's claim. He said that, while Dobson didn't believe Thompson to be a member of a non-Christian faith, Dobson nevertheless "has never known Thompson to be a committed Christian—someone who talks openly about his faith."
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
So Fred aint no christan but the guy who cheated on his wife and dumped another while she had cancer is?....when did we become a slave to these idiots
I don't know if Thompson is a Christian or not, but if he is, it isn't because he was baptized...and by making such a statement Corallo provides an indication that he himself is probably not a Christian.
Perhaps Dr. Dobson should respect Fred Thompson's decision to keep his faith personal, between him and God.
I agree. It's a joke. I am not a fan of Dobson because of things like this.
He has earthly political goals. Newt has kissed his ring, Thompson hasn't so Newt gets the good christian certification.
I don't think James Dobson should be our kingmaker.
I think Mr. Dobson should quit while he is behind.
Conservatives really need to shed this 'terminally fuddy duddy' image we have cultivated for ourselves.
Bingo.
"when did we become a slave to these idiots"
Those idiots are the reason conservatism exists.
Newt Ping!
No. Baptism is a public declaration of a spiritual conversion that has already taken place. However, many people have not had a personal conversion and get baptised because of family history or other reasons.
Maybe if Senator Thompson traveled to Colorado Springs covered in ashes and wearing a sack cloth to kiss Dr. Dobson's ring, he would be validated as a "true" Christian.
Amen. No pun intended.
Just calling it like it is.
Dobson is a pustule on the rump of the GOP.
Not by itself, it isn't. It is merely the public ceremony, without the personal commitment to live the ideals. Just like a marriage ceremony for an adulterer. Conversion happens in the heart.
That said, I have no idea what Thompson's religious beliefs are.
No, baptism is an outward symbol of dying with Christ and identifying with His rising...but if there is no inward conversion to Christ then it's a hollow symbol. As a child I was baptized but I wasn't a Christian...many people are baptized but never really accept Christ...it's more a "cultural" thing they do...but a cultural Christian is not a real Christian. Pointing to a baptism as "proof" of being a Christian missed the critical inner conversion and points to an outward confession. As I stated, Thompson may be a Christian, I don't pretend to know one way or the other...but simply being baptized does not prove it. So I don't agree that it's "crazy talk".
Hardly. Those idiots are the same as liberal idiots - they both want the Govt sticking their noses where they don't belong. The only difference is where they want the noses stuck.
psst...I work at a paper and have to set ads for a local CofC...they do indeed think baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation.
Hey knucklehead (not you, "dogbyte12")
U.S. Constitution
Article VI:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
Once again... "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
Thompson knows what is in his own heart, Dobson doesn't. As long as he votes for conservative ideals & wants to seriously tackle illegal immigration then he has my support.
It's not my intention to debate the whole "necessary for salvation" bit, but if so it'd come as a surprise to the thief on the cross as well as Jesus who told him he'd with with Jesus in paradise as he was not baptized.
Don't get me wrong, I think baptism is very important in the Christian faith, but it's not proof. If an atheist were to walk into a church and get baptized without any inner acceptance of Christ would he be saved because he'd been baptized even though he continues to reject Christ? I'd say no...becoming a Christian is an inner change and baptism is a confession of that, but not proof of it.
Who appointed Dr. Dobson as the arbiter of who is a Christian and who is not a Christian?
Remove the Christians from their conservative movement and you have almost nothing left, do you think it is supply side economics that created the Republican party and keeps the Republican party alive?
Redemption.
Bingo.
Frankly, applying a religious litmus test to a politician is foolish at best.
George Bush's 'Christian values" didn't prevent him from wasting money like a crackhead who won the lottery.
Personally, you can offer bull testicles to Capitoline Jove so long as you control spending, reign in State power, and keep your damn nose out of my business.
Christians are instructed not to do so.
If Fred Thompson is a Christian, that's all I need to know. It is NOT up to someone like Dobson to pass judgment on whether Thompson meets the requirements or not. Dobson should back off and shut up at this point.
Dobson sounds like an ass. Thompson is the only Reaganite (near) candidate. He would do more for Christians in the US than anyone else, because Conservatism and Christianity are very complimentary. John Kerry is a Catholic(ha), does that mean Dobson would prefer him?
"Reign?" Oops.
Rein.
Sorry. That sort of accident happens when I consider the Imperial Presidency.
Did any of you read the article? No, you didn't. Because if you had, you'd find yourself agreeing 100% with Dobson -- that by all appearances Thompson is not a practicing Christian, and that Gingrich is the "brightest guy out there" and "the most articulate politician on the scene today."
Is any of that factually incorrect? No. Is he in fact announcing his support of anyone? No.
FWIW, Dobson has not yet gotten behind any candidate.
Maybe we should all be a bit less eager to slam high-profile Christians.
"If Fred Thompson is a Christian, that's all I need to know."
Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter are also "christians".
It's a close call. The Bible almost says it flatly, but not quiet. But why take the chance?
If everything you say is true, my comment is still valid. Did you read my comment? No, you didn't.
Read my post 36. I don't see anything Dobson has said that makes him "an ass." I can see how the article tries to represent him as one, though.
Maybe Thompson does just that, not as a Presidential candidate -- but as an individual. Who are you or Dobson to say otherwise?
I draw a sharp distinction between "conservative" and "Republican". I can barely recognize the Republican Party anymore.
Conservatives are for smaller, less intrusive government. The GOP hasn't acted that way for decades, including under Reagan.
And, no, I'm not a libertarian - although I don't think it's a bad word, either.
Who the heck is Dobson to say someone isnt a Christian? Who died and made him God? Come to think of it I dont recall salmming him either.
So what? They can all be "Christians" without being "perfect".
I agree. I shared a similar conversation with a CofC co-worker and her eyes looked like a slot machine. I thought she was going to lunge at me right then!
Oh well.
Are you saying Baptists aren't Christian?
Why is Dobson a "fuddy duddy" (meaning "stuffy" or "old fashioned") for his comments about either Gingrich or Thompson? Because he has not observed Thompson doing things that Christians typically do? Because he has observed that Gingrich is "the most articulate politician on the scene today"?
"Maybe we should all be a bit less eager to slam high-profile Christians."
Dobson doesn't speak for me.
I am not a Christian.
The GOP is not the Jesus party. It's the party of small government.
Yes, I still think Dr. Dobson's self-appointed role as the arbiters of who is a Christian is arrogant.
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